Silicone/Braided water hoses

[Calorian]

Hi folks,

Does anyone know of any places that offer a silicone hose set for the MKii. I've split a bottom hose and figured as they need doing, by opting for silicone or metal braided I should be able to 'fix and forget'

I've seen a place that offers a MKi silicone set at around the £130 mark but not for the MKii. (Do they even differ on non-pas models?)

Cheers

[Alec]

Hello Calorian,

this company may have what you need although the description is a little vague, but worth a call:-http://www.classicsiliconehoses.com/our-products/

Alec

[Calorian]

Hi,
That's the company I had seen but they are listed as MKi hoses.
G

[Alec]

Hello Calorian,

yes, but they can manufacture to your specification, if you can provide a pattern..

Alec

[johnconradlee]

Most of the hoses are the same Mk1 and Mk2, the only ones I can think of that are different are the heater hoses (Mk1 ones are much longer) and the bottom radiator hose if you have power steering (would be simple enough to just cut the middle section out and replace with the steel bit if you have power steering).
The picture of the Classic Silicon hoses kit seem to show Mk2 heater hoses so I reckon it's a Mk2 kit.

[sprint95m]

Silicone hoses are fit and forget or at least they should be!
Alas some folk are producing rubbish e.g. Silicon.com.

Stick to a European manufacturer, these will be 3-ply (or more on bigger bore hoses) with a good wall thickness (4 or 5 mm).


I fitted silicone hoses to a Dolomite, at a time when sets were not available, using "off the shelf" components.
On a 2000 the awkward hose if the top radiator one, all the others are straightforward to make.

In other words, you will be able to use the set (as per the link in Aleco's post),
albeit with some alterations possibly being necessary.



It is worth using proper hose clips.
To this end I use JCS (British made and top quality).

[johnnydog]

Most of the hoses are the same Mk1 and Mk2, the only ones I can think of that are different are the heater hoses (Mk1 ones are much longer) and the bottom radiator hose if you have power steering (would be simple enough to just cut the middle section out and replace with the steel bit if you have power steering)

The only other difference through the range apart from John's comments above is that there were variations of the top hose from the thermostat housing to the top of the radiator. Later cars were fitted with a shorter top hose to accommodate the change of position / slant of the engine on facelift models.
You can cut a longer one down to fit, but not always stretch a shorter one.....

[owen1183]

5 - 6 years ago I did try to set up a group buy on here for a mk11 silicon hose kit.... There was interest, but I think the price was a bit prohibative. I sent a full set of rubber hoses to a supplier and he quoted me for tooling & producing 10 sets... thats as far as it went..

I ended up buying off the shelf straight lengths and various anlges (90 degree, 45 degree etc) Straight st/st joiners & clamps and made mine to suit.

I used Derby Performace hose http://www.derbyperformancehose.co.uk/

Good quality and good customer support.

You can buy 'classic' silicon hoses too to keep the original asthetics

[Paul64]

I sent a set of rad hoses to Classic Silicone for my Mk1 2.5PI at the beginning of the year, direct from Chris Witor.
They made a set up for me and obviously now have the pattern for anyone else. They did a nice job and I'll fit them when I replace the standard fan with a VC item, also from Chris.
Also, I am using Evans Waterless Coolant. Down here in the South of France, we're regularly up to 30+C now and I have no problems with the car running too hot.
It seems to be a fit and forget product too with no more corrosion / silting up of the heater or block and new hoses, it should put an end to all those problems!

Paul